Work in progress: Resources to be added
| Topic | Resources |
|---|---|
| Nature of Sound waves | Yes (.) |
| Intensity and loudness | Yes (,) |
| Resonance | |
| Harmonics and Overtones |
Files from a presentation by Simon Dick, Padua College in 2007.
Using freeware resources for sound reproduction measurements 18.5 MB
A powerpoint by Simon Dick for the 2007 Physics Teachers Conference.
Doppler calculation 16.4 kB
A spreadsheet to support the presentation by Simon Dick.
Resonance 17.4 kB
A spreadsheet to support the presentation by Simon Dick.
Files from a presentation by Kelvin Barraclough, Gisborne Secondary College in 2011 of some audio freeware such as osc251 and sweepgen. Another useful piece of freeware is ‘Audacity’ which is a powerful audio editor and recorder, which can be easily downloaded from the ‘audacity’ website.
Experiments and Demos in Sound: Part 1 of 5 part PowerPoint 1.72 MB
Experiments and Demos in Sound: Part 2 of 5 part PowerPoint 4.91 MB
Experiments and Demos in Sound: Part 3 of 5 part PowerPoint 3.32 MB
Experiments and Demos in Sound: Part 4 of 5 part PowerPoint 12 MB
Experiments and Demos in Sound: Part 5 of 5 part PowerPoint 3.32 MB
The executable file of the frequency analyser: GSpec 236 kB
The zip file of the oscilloscope simulation: osc251 90.6 kB
The zip file of the signal generator: SweepGen 650 kB
Speed of Sound Prac 2 36.9 kB
This document contains a student handout outlining a prac to determine the speed of sound in air using resonance in a tube closed at one end.
Speed of Sound Prac 3 38.4 kB
This document contains a student handout outlining a prac to determine the speed of sound in air using standing waves set up in a sound tube.
CRO Speed of Sound Prac 133 kB
This speed of sound prac uses a dual trace CRO and allows measurement of the time interval betwen pulses arriving at two microphones a couple of metres apart.
Test for the Summary Report on Prac activities for Sound 72.2 kB
A Test from the previous course on practical activities for Sound, including dB values, standing waves between speakers, interference in 2D and the resonance tube prac. Also included is a note to students on what practical activities will be covered in the task. Note: Some content in this task is not longer in the course.
Sound Assessment Task 293 kB
A plan for conducting the sound practical work as part of the unit 4 school assessed coursework.
Sound Summary 450 kB
A set of questions forming the assessment for the sound summary report as part of the unit 4 school assessed coursework.
Summary Report on Practical Activities in Sound 43.5 kB
Summary report of sound practical activities. SAC document used in 2000.
Another Summary Report on Practical Activities in Sound 56.8 kB
Summary report of sound practical activities linked to the first three Speed of Sound Pracs above.
Test in Sound 50.7 kB
Basic Unit 4 Sound Test. It consists of 34 mostly multiple choice questions. Answers are at the end.
Test your own hearing
Detailed instructions.
The Soundry
This is an interactive and educational web site about sound. Covering everything from the most basic concepts of what sound actually is to the specifics of how humans perceive it, the Soundry aims to promote enthusiasm and knowledge of sound. The site was created by US high school students as a ThinkQuest contest entry. Thinkquest has been discontinued. This file is from the archive.
Acoustical Society of America
This site features an Education section that has an extensive list of career sites, as well as some interesting material on the historical development of the wave theory of sound. There are many university sites listed with only a few relevant links to secondary physics.
Street Mozart
A video of a roller skater rolling between two rows of filled bottles, gently hitting them to produce a tune by Mozart.
Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapse
A four minute video on Youtube with occasional commentary.
Ruben’s Tube
Standing wave of flaming gas jets, some play music through the tube as well, but in such cases the flames are just a visual volume indicator. None of the videos show the pressure antinodes at the closed ends as they don’t have holes there.
Chladni Plate
Several Chladni figures produced by a bow on a square steel plate.
Effect of baffle board
An effective demo, once seen is easily copied at school.
Longitudinal wave applet
Longitudinal wave applet with many aspect to be varied.
Forced Oscillations (Resonance)
This applet by Walter Fendt features a mass on the end of a spring, but with an oscillating driving force at the top of the spring. You can vary the spring constant, the size of the attached mass, the attenuation factor and the frequency of the driving force. You can also show the elongation of the driving force and the mass at the bottom over time. The other graphs on phase, etc. are too complicated for Year 12′. The application has limited use to Sound, but if the attenuation is set to zero, and a few frequencies are chosen carefully then the effect can be dramatic.
Standing Longitudinal Waves
This applet by Walter Fendt shows moving particles in a column forming standing waves. You have the choice of both ends open, one end open or both ends closed. You can also show the fundamental and overtones up to the 5th. The length of the tube can be varied, and the wavelength and frequency are also displayed. Unfortunately the column has the letters A, N under the positions of the displacement antinodes and nodes, and the applet also shows variation from the displacement point of view, which could be potentially confusing. It is possible to show the air particles on the screen without showing the nodal pattern.
Decibels
Uses “P” for Power and ‘p” for pressure, but not “I” for intensity so it could be confusing for some students, nevertheless a very thorough website. It also introduces “sones”.
Microphone handbook No 1
12 pages of text on different types of microphones.
Microphone handbook No 2
A Shure website with files on an audio guide for music educator that covers everything from recording to live sound reinforcement and will help you choose equipment for a variety of applications;A music studio guide that describes particular microphone techniques and placement, it also includes tips on how to pick up a natural tonal balance, help reject unwanted sounds, and create special effects;W hat happens when a high impedance microphone is connected to a low impedance input?”; Common questions regarding microphone sensitivity ratings and dB SPL input levels; Shure is often asked “How far away will my microphone pick up?” or “Which microphone has the best reach?” Both questions are based on a misunderstanding of how microphones work. This bulletin attempts to debunk the myth of microphone reach;